Quito

One of the first UNESCO World Heritage cities, with a superbly preserved colonial old town set in an Andean valley and the gateway to the Galápagos.

Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It sits in an Andean valley on the eastern slopes of Pichincha volcano at about 2,850 m, making it one of the highest capitals in the world, and lies only about 25 km from the equator. In 1978 Quito's Old Town was inscribed among the first World Heritage Sites, alongside the Galápagos Islands, and it is one of the best-preserved colonial city centers in Latin America. The climate is spring-like year-round, with daytime highs of about 18–22°C and mornings and evenings around 10°C. June–September is the main dry season with plenty of sunshine; in the other months there are often afternoon showers, and temperatures swing widely within a single day. Areas to explore: the Old Town, with Independence Square, La Compañía church, San Francisco, Santo Domingo, La Ronda Street, the Basílica del Voto Nacional and the Virgin of El Panecillo; the New Town, with the La Mariscal district, the National Museum, La Carolina Park, Guayasamín's Chapel of Man and Guápulo; the heights, where the Quito cable car climbs the slopes of Pichincha volcano; and the northern outskirts, with the Equator Monument, the Intiñan Museum and the Pululahua crater. Classic day trips: Cotopaxi National Park, the Otavalo market, the Mindo cloud forest and the Papallacta hot springs. Getting around: Mariscal Sucre International Airport is about 40 km east of the city, a 45–60 minute taxi ride; the city has a metro and bus rapid transit, and for taxis it is best to use a reputable app. Allow 3–5 days; the trip is often combined with the Galápagos or the Amazon. Notes: acclimatize to the altitude on arrival and avoid climbing high on the first day; watch for pickpockets in the Old Town and La Mariscal, and take taxis at night.

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